Police are preparing to control hundreds and possibly thousands of
demonstrators as some 500 scientists from around the world meet here
starting
Friday for the International Society of Animal Genetics conference.

Organizers say the biennial event, being held in the United States for the
first time, has never been confronted by demonstrations. But protest
groups say
they'll do "whatever is necessary" to end what they call the exploitation of
animals and dangerous manipulation of genetic material.

Police have purchased more than 100 sets of riot gear and will set up a
perimeter around the downtown hotel hosting the six-day conference.

"We are preparing for any stage of what might happen," Chief Robert Olson
said.

At least two summer festivals have canceled or postponed events for fear
of
disruptions caused by protesters. The Minnesota Orchestra, after
consulting with
police, canceled three Sommerfest concerts scheduled for Sunday, Monday and
Tuesday.

The animal research group began in the mid-1950s as a coalition of
scientists
interested in comparing research on livestock blood-typing and
grouping. As the
science of genetics evolved, so did the organization, which now
claims about 650
members. Most of those are university and government researchers, said Brian
Kirkpatrick, ISAG secretary and animal-science professor at the University
of
Wisconsin-Madison, where the organization is based.

Kirkpatrick said ISAG is one of the world's most prominent groups
that shares
information on the gene mapping of livestock and companion animals, used to
enhance their health and resistance to disease and harsh conditions, like
heat
and cold. He said no experimentation or testing will take place at the
organization's 27th conference.

"It's just a bunch of scientists getting together and reporting what
they're
working on," Kirkpatrick said. "We've never really been a target for
protests
before."

Matt Bullard, a spokesman for the University of Minnesota-based Student
Organization for Animal Rights, said between 40 and 50 people from
SOAR and the
Upper Midwest Resistance Against Genetic Engineering, also known as
GrainRAGE,
met Tuesday night to discuss their demonstration strategies. Bullard said
GrainRAGE is the main organizing group.

Bullard said the group plans to gather in Loring Park near downtown
Minneapolis at 6 p.m. Friday to begin a march toward the Hyatt Regency Hotel
where the conference is being held.

Police spokeswoman Cyndi Montgomery said the department has consulted with
law enforcement agencies in Seattle and Boston to learn from their recent
experiences. Seattle was the site of violent and paralyzing demonstrations
during the World Trade Organization meeting in December, while Boston spent
weeks preparing for a biotechnology conference in March that went relatively
smoothly.

Montgomery said Minneapolis police have spent about $100,000 preparing for
the six-day event, including the purchase of nightsticks, plastic hand
binders
and "hard dress," a type of riot gear made of rigid foam.

Bullard, of SOAR, said he doesn't see why demonstrators should be kept
from
the site, but wouldn't say whether they might try to cross the perimeter.
Montgomery said if they do, police have discretion to make any
arrests they deem
necessary.

"Let's just say that we will deal with any activity as it occurs,"
Montgomery
said. "People have the right to freedom of speech. We support that. It's
just
that we can't tolerate unlawful behavior or civil disobedience."

Reasons for opposition to animal genetic modification vary from group to
group. SOAR, which most frequently protests animal experimentation and
vivisection on campus, takes issue with the cruelty to animals associated
with
genetic engineering, Bullard said.

"It's turning animals into machines for profit, even more so than they are
already," Bullard said. Other groups are more concerned with safety and
preserving the integrity of the gene pool.

Members of GrainRAGE, which was founded in January, did not return phone
calls Tuesday or Wednesday. The organization's Web site says that ISAG is a
"good excuse to rail against one of the foundations of our death-culture."
It
also posts a "Stop the mad scientists!" schedule, calling for a
"shut 'em down"
event Monday at an undisclosed location.

"We hope this doesn't turn into another Seattle, we won't tolerate another
Seattle, and we're prepared to handle anything that happens here in
Minneapolis
this weekend," Montgomery said.